Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

A happy and blessed New Year to all who visit here!   [I thought this post was worth sharing again.]   A Different Kind of New Year's Exercise  (Originally posted on January 1, 2018) Those who visit here, know how blessed I have been over the years to spend time in retreat at the Abbey at the Genesee in Piffard, New York. [If you missed those posts and wish to take a peek, you can find them  here , here ,  here  and here .] (Image Source: Abbey at the Genesee) This present post was prompted by an e-mail I received last week from the Abbey’s Retreat House manager, reminding me of what a perfect time of the year it is to visit this Trappist monastery. He enclosed this breathtakingly beautiful image of our Blessed Mother located near the entrance door to the Abbey. Since death can occur at any time and since we must always be prepared for it, the beginning of this new year seems an appropriate time for me to highlight some o...

Thank you Allison Gingras at  Reconciled To You   and Elizabeth Riordan at  Theology Is A Verb   for  hosting Catholic bloggers at  Worth   Revisiting .  It is a privilege for us to share our work with you and your readers .  Stop by for a visit now .  My post for this week: Monday Musings - As Only A Mother Can (Originally posted August 14, 2017) While I was on retreat last week at the  Abbey of the Genesee , I paused (as I often do on my visits there) before the statue of our Blessed Mother which welcomes visitors to the monastery.  It is a simple but beautiful image. I think you will agree. This day, as I prayerfully gazed into her eyes, these words came to me: "Come closer my child. Draw near to me. I want to embrace and kiss you as only a Mother can." What a gift to us "poor banished children of Eve"!

(Image source: Pixabay) I love going on retreat to the Abbey of Genesee in Piffard, New York. I have become fond of the birds that always serenade me there. If you are interested in knowing why, you can listen here .

Thank you Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan for your weekly invitation to re-post our favorite articles on Worth Revisiting. Go here now (and every Wednesday) and let an interesting group of Catholic bloggers nourish you in your Faith journey. During the rest of each week. visit Allison at   Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb .  You will be pleased with what they share. My Winged Messengers (Originally posted August 29, 2016) (Image source: Pixabay) Whenever I have been blessed to spend time in the chapel at the retreat house at the Abbey of Genesee an assortment of birds always flies above and around the exterior of the chapel as I first begin to pray – carefree, chirping, doing what God created them to do, and trusting Him to provide for their needs.  After a time, they leave me as silence returns. The presence of my feathered friends at these times of prayer is God’s way of reminding me that if H...

(Image source: Pixabay) Whenever I have been blessed to spend time in the chapel at the retreat house at the Abbey of Genesee an assortment of birds always flies above and around the exterior of the chapel as I first begin to pray – carefree, chirping, doing what God created them to do, and trusting Him to provide for their needs.  After a time, they leave me as silence returns. The presence of my feathered friends at these times of prayer is God’s way of reminding me that if He cares and provides for these little creatures, how much more certain I can be He will do so for me. I can never be reminded of this truth enough.

T hank you Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan for inviting Catholic bloggers to re-post their favorite articles on "Worth Revisiting” Wednesdays.   Go there now (and every Wednesday) and gouge yourself on a feast of spiritual treasures. Be sure to visit Allison at  Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb during the rest of the week.  You will find much spiritual nourishment and encouragement there. I am sharing the following post: Monday Musings – Mary My Mother – Be at My Side  (Originally published January 4, 2016) (Photo©Michael Seagriff) [The great value of retreats is that the guidance and insight gained during those intense times of prayer and silence never stop giving. Every time I re-read my notes from past retreats I gain additional direction and encouragement. Let me share an example of what I mean.] On the second day of my retreat, I found myself distracted particularly at Communion. This upset me and...